The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has revised the No-Fuel Policy, also known as the End-of-Life (EoL) vehicle policy, in Delhi-NCR, and has decided to implement it from November 1, 2025.
No Fuel Policy: The government has taken a crucial decision to control the serious air pollution situation in the capital Delhi and its surrounding areas. The 'No Fuel Policy' will now be strictly enforced from November 1, 2025. Under this policy, vehicles that have completed their specified lifespan will not be provided fuel at any petrol or CNG pump.
This policy will be implemented in Delhi as well as major districts of NCR such as Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram, Sonipat, and Noida. Its main objective is to control pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas and to remove old, highly polluting vehicles from the roads.
What is the 'No Fuel Policy'?
According to this policy, all vehicles that have completed their stipulated lifespan (15 years for petrol and 10 years for diesel vehicles) will not be permitted to refuel with petrol or CNG at any fuel station. If any vehicle is found violating the rules, not only will a heavy fine be imposed, but the vehicle may also be impounded.
It is noteworthy that this policy was earlier scheduled to be implemented from July 1, 2025, but it was temporarily suspended after b protests from the public and vehicle owner organizations. At that time, several vehicle drivers were fined between ₹5,000 to ₹10,000, and dozens of old vehicles were also seized.
In which districts will the policy be implemented?
This time, the 'No Fuel Policy' is not limited to Delhi and is being implemented in the following major districts of Delhi-NCR as well:
- Delhi
- Faridabad
- Gurugram
- Sonipat
- Ghaziabad
The government's intention is to work under a uniform and effective system throughout the NCR so that old vehicles cannot be shifted from one area to another.
What changes have been made in the policy?
After the temporary suspension of the policy in July, several rounds of meetings were held between the Delhi government and the CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management). In these meetings, some technical improvements have been made in the policy, taking into account issues such as identification of old vehicles, their registration data, responsibilities of pump operators, and grievance redressal for drivers.
Now, petrol pumps will be connected to a digital system, which will automatically determine whether a vehicle is eligible for fuel based on its number plate and registration details.
Strict action on violation
If a vehicle driver ignores the rules and somehow manages to refuel, then:
- A fine of up to ₹10,000
- The vehicle can be seized
- Registration can be suspended
- Action will also be taken against the concerned pump
The Environment Minister of the Delhi government has made it clear that "there will be no compromise on pollution now." Delhi's air quality reaches the severe category every winter, and a major reason for this is the old and polluting vehicles running on the roads. This is why the central and state governments have jointly decided to re-implement this policy.
